Johnston Sun Rise - RhodyBeat

Police Log

By DANIEL KITTREDGE Officer released from hospital after accident A Cranston police officer hurt last week in an accident that occurred while he was participating in a motorcycle escort for a funeral procession in Johnston has been released from the more

By Daniel Kittredge | 11/10/16

MAKING THE DIFFERENCE: Elijah Burgess scored on a rush late in the fourth quarter to push Johnston in front.

Late Burgess touchdown sends Panthers past Oakers

After scoring just 28 points in its first three league games, the Johnston football team has picked up its offense and put it into high gear and has now scored 152 points in its last four league games. The Panthers would more

By Joe Russo | 11/10/16

3 charged in theft of high-end sunglasses

By DANIEL KITTREDGE Police are crediting the use of social media and assistance from the public with helping to quickly identify and apprehend three suspects in the theft of thousands of dollars worth of sunglasses from OPTX Rhode Island late last month. more

By Daniel A. Kittredge | 11/10/16

See it at the Movies

SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU * * * (Michelle & Barack's first date) Tika Sumptner plays Michelle Robinson and Parker Sawyers plays Barack Obama in this charming, talky little movie that imagines what their first date was like. Michelle is Barack's supervisor in a more

By Joyce and Don Fowler | 11/10/16

Tales of Rocky Point Park: New film explores amusement park’s ‘curse’

They came with their friends, they came with their families - but some may have never left. For over 150 years, Rocky Point was known as Rhode Island’s summertime playground. Generations of New … more

By Tim Forsberg | 11/8/16

Penta steps down as GOP chair, running in Dist. 21

Mike Penta puts friends first. The Republican City Committee chairman was one of those who attended the announcement of Ward 3 Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson that she would run for the House District 21 seat. Vella-Wilkinson is a more

By John Howell | 11/8/16

Races begin to take shape as filing period arrives

With the arrival of summer, election season is again heating up. This week brought the three-day window for elected office hopefuls to file declaration of candidacy forms, with the final deadline … more

By Daniel Kittredge | 11/8/16

UNSUNG HERO: Cranston’s Brittney Bidwell is one of six high school hockey players who will receive the Reds’ Unsung Hero Award at the Aug. 7 reunion. She’s joined by her coach, P.J. Bessette.

RI Reds Heritage Society set for 16th annual reunion

Hockey legends of yesteryear, upstart high school stars, and even fans will make up the roster for the Rhode Island Reds Heritage Society's 16th annual reunion, which is on tap for Sunday, Aug. 7, at Goddard Park Memorial State Park in more

By Pete Fontaine | 11/7/16

SELECT COMPANY: Cranston East’s Brittney Bidwell, second from left, was one of four high school hockey players that received Unsung Hero Awards from the Rhode Island Reds Heritage Society on Sunday.

Bidwell receives prestigious award from R.I. Reds Heritage Society

Cranston’s Brittney Bidwell was in some mighty select company Sunday afternoon inside Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick. The East High senior-to-be sat on stage with some of the biggest … more

By Pete Fontaine | 11/7/16

MANY CHOICES: The students at St. Rocco School have a wide variety of choices for after school enrichment activities, including the chess club for students in grades five through eight. Here, seventh-grader Bailey Merlino and eighth-grader Lora Donovan think about their game strategies as they make their moves. Both have had some outside experience in the game, having played with family members in the past, and they look forward to playing with their peers after school.

St. Rocco kicks off new round of after school opportunities

By JEN COWART The students at St. Rocco School now have the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the traditional school day hours. The school recently kicked off a new session of after school enrichment activities. We have started a multi-age" more

By Jen Cowart | 11/7/16

Guckian steps down as chair of Warwiuck Sewer Authority

Now that he is living in East Greenwich, Warwick Sewer Authority (WSA) Chairman Aaron Guckian is resigning from the board after nearly a decade of service to the city. Mayor Scott Avedisian appointed Guckian to replace board member Anthony D'Antuono when more

11/6/16

Knights oust Panthers, 3-2, in D-III quarterfinals

No. 3 Central erased a 2-1 deficit on Tuesday evening, winning the fourth and fifth sets to down No. 2 Johnston, 3-2, in the Division III volleyball quarterfinals. After the Knights dominated the first set, cruising to a more

By Matt Metcalf | 11/6/16

Fears of excess voters deemed as ‘trumped up’

Rhode Island’s size, and the fact that elections here are community-run rather than directed by some large external organization, is one of the best safeguards against voter fraud. “It’s … more

By John Howell | 11/5/16

FOCUSING ON SCHOOLS: Danny Hall is running for the at large seat on the Warwick School Committee. He believes the focus needs to shift from personal agendas and finger pointing back to the students.

Hall aims to bring passion for involvement to schools

“Right now the environment of Warwick schools seems toxic. There are a lot of people playing the blame game instead of trying to move anything forward. This is getting us nowhere and, inevitably, … more

By Kelcy Dolan | 11/5/16

LOOKALIKES: ECC staffers Patti Loffredo, left, and Tina Brodeur came dressed for last Friday’s Scarecrow Parade with plaid shirts and straw hats.

Early Childhood Center celebrates second Scarecrow Parade

By PETE FONTAINE It's a new annual event featuring old-fashioned fun, and also serves as a unique learning experience. It's the wonderful work of Julie-anne Zarrella, Kim Hatton, and Felicia Chionchio, just to name a few folks. It's the Early Childhood more

By Pete Fontaine | 11/5/16

GOOD GUESSES: Kyleeh Iricanny and Ryan Audino, grades two and five, respectively, were the winners of the Candy Corn Count. Each came the closest to the actual amount of candy corn in the containers for their grade level, shown here, and received a prize. Both students are seen here posing with Principal Jill Souza, who is showing her Halloween spirit, dressed in her orange and black.

Barnes students show Halloween spirit

Barnes students show Halloween spirit At Sarah Dyer Barnes Elementary School, Halloween on Monday gave all the staff and students a chance to show their school spirit, dressing in orange and black for the day. In kindergarten, however, the students and more

11/5/16

New charges mulled after 2nd death tied to August crash, fire

By DANIEL KITTREDGE Authorities are exploring upgraded charges following the death of a second person injured in an August fire in town. Deputy Police Chief Daniel Parrillo on Wednesday said Dolores Pagano has died as a result of injuries sustained in more

By Daniel Kittredge | 11/4/16

RI Building & Construction Trades Council to present 2016 BIG Walk `Harvest Hike' 5k Walk/Fun-Run to benefit BBBSOS

On Saturday, Nov. 5 at Roger Williams Park, the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council will hold its annual BIG Walk Harvest Hike" 5k Walk/Fun-Run to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State (BBBSOS). Registration will begin at" more

11/4/16

DYNAMIC DONORS: Officials from the Johnston Youth Wrestling Club and Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School held an unveiling of the new wrestling mat last week in the gymnasium. The group includes, from left, Lisa Baccala, Roland Martino Jr., John Antonucci, Principal Matt Tsonos, and Assistant Principal Robert DiMuccio. Kneeling is Jay Baccala, a member of the wrestling team.

Club donates wrestling mat to Ferri Middle School

The sport of wrestling just recorded a pin, an off-mat move that will further boost programs at three different levels in Johnston. “This is an insurance policy for the kids who wrestle in … more

By Pete Fontaine | 11/4/16

Green energy, economic growth at heart of Vinagro's pitch

By TIM FORSBERG The often outspoken recycling magnate Louis Vinagro Jr. - known for his former pig farm operations, his past write-in campaign for mayor of Johnston, and his trash and reclamation businesses - has thrown his hat into the race for the more

By Tim Forsberg | 11/4/16

Gorman makes case for change in General Assembly bid

By TIM FORSBERG Karin Gorman, director of Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement, is making an independent run for the District 43 seat in the Rhode Island House of … more

By Tim Forsberg | 11/4/16

NEW SHOW: Pawtucket native Mike D and Cranston native Bekah Berger will be the co-hosts of the new HOT Morning Show.

Providence's HOT 106/WWKX-FM launches new morning show

Cumulus Media and Top 40/Rhythmic radio station WWKX-FM, HOT 106 in Providence announce the launch today of the all-new HOT Morning Show, with a live and local line-up featuring native Rhode Islanders Bekah Berger and Mike D. The HOT Morning Show airs more

11/4/16

Seasonal spectacle: Johnston plays host to first RI Scarecrow Festival

By PETE FONTAINE Local businesses, crafters, families, and others from across the community helped make the weekend's first-ever Rhode Island Scarecrow Festival a great success. Johnston War Memorial Park was a sea of scarecrows Saturday afternoon for more

By Pete Fontaine | 11/3/16

Ruling could be new lease on life for Nikki

By HARRY KANE Finally, there's light at the end of the tunnel for Nikki Batsford. The Johnston resident, who has hydrocephalus, said she might finally get access to a doctor who she believes could save her life. Dr. Mark Luciano is the director of the more

By Harry Kane | 11/3/16

Halloween spirit shines at Manton Seniors party

By PETE FONTAINE No matter what the event or theme, the Manton Seniors have always had a flair for the unusual. Take Sunday's annual Halloween Dinner Dance, for example. Such notables as Kim Kardashian and gangsters like the legendary Al Capone showed up more

By Pete Fontaine | 10/31/16